Louise Fili Feature
Julia Baker Handmade Chocolates

Julia Baker Confections

by Celia Sin-Tien Cheng
December 11, 2008

This week’s winners are Janie and Jeanann. Congratulations!

Below is the original Baking Friday post.


Q: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE WINTERTIME COMFORT FOOD?


Scroll down to enter a comment. Make sure to click on “submit” after the preview appears on screen. Send in your answer by midnight tonight and you will automatically be entered into the drawing to win a 16-piece Signature Oval Box from Julia Baker Confections. Winners will be contacted via email. This Baking Friday is open to participants throughout the U.S.


There’s nothing like a lavish box of chocolates to put a smile on someone’s face. Our fourth holiday gift recommendation and this week’s Baking Friday prize is the luxurious 16-piece Signature Oval Box of chocolates from Julia Baker Confections.

The Signature Oval offers an assortment of 10 truffles — caramel, hazelnut and coconut — and six hand-cut chocolates — dark chocolate ganache, raspberry, Irish creme, passion fruit and milk chocolate ganache.

When I bit into my first Julia Baker caramel truffle, it reminded me of a high end Almond Roca, with crunchy almonds encrusting the truffle and creamy toffee filling (not hard like the Almond Roca bars). It brought me back to my childhood but in a much more sophisticated way. The ganache in each of the hand-cut chocolates was so silky smooth, I became completely consumed in the moment.

If your loved ones like chocolate, consider sending them a box of these deliciously high-quality chocolates by Julia Baker. Also check out her exquisite custom cakes. Wow!


Thank you, Julia Baker, for this week’s Baking Friday contribution!

 

Comments (33)

Ariel Shearman

Dec 12, 07:44 AM

I love hot tea with milk; I have a lovely chestnut scented black tea that tastes so heavenly on cold, rainy days. I also love Christmas-y things…stollen, spiced wine, cookies…all put me in the mood.

Julia Ames

Dec 12, 09:17 AM

Warm fresh bread with anything saucy.

Dan Dickinson

Dec 12, 09:27 AM

The egg nog from Purity Ice Cream in Ithaca, NY. I drink it cold (and without any added “holiday cheer”), but any way you drink it, that’s some damn fine nog.

Michael

Dec 12, 09:32 AM

I like home made “chicken in a pot”—a whole chicken cooked with vegetables and covered with water; great on a winter night and easy to make

Lexi Beach

Dec 12, 09:36 AM

my mom’s preparation of my grandmother’s recipe for creamed chicken, ideally using the remains of the previous night’s roast chicken dinner.

Anna Giladi

Dec 12, 09:37 AM

Chocolate!!! :) In any form solid or liquid. A good hot chocolate can make my day! I also like rich comfort soups such as a New England clam chowder yummm.

Christina Huang

Dec 12, 09:54 AM

Shabu Shabu! Sitting around the table with family and friends, cooking, and eating together!

Janie

Dec 12, 10:12 AM

mac and cheese!! any kind, any way, any time. :)

Beth

Dec 12, 10:14 AM

mac and cheese!

Melanie Lee

Dec 12, 10:17 AM

a hot bowl of chili does the trick in cold weather. i usually make a big pot and heat it up for quick satisfaction.

Jackie

Dec 12, 10:18 AM

Hard to choose just one, but I think I’ll have to go with hot, creamy mac and cheese. There are so many incarnations: old-school style made w/condensed milk and cubes of ham, variations with lots of veggies and a crisp breadcrumb crust, and the one I’m making tonight — 2 cheese (goat cheese!) w/caramelized shallots…Winter comfort food at its best!

kay

Dec 12, 10:20 AM

sweet potatoes cooked any style

catherine

Dec 12, 10:21 AM

Piping hot chili with lots of spices, chuncky meat and beans. The smell of good chili alone is intoxicating. Depending on the type (beef or chicken), a nice topping of fresh grated cheese, raw onions and a dollop of creme fraiche.

Jason

Dec 12, 10:22 AM

Absolutely roast beef, with plenty of gravy. It’s the best!

Katy Conway

Dec 12, 10:30 AM

Vietnamese pho soup with plenty of fresh basil and hot sauce!

Sabena Singh

Dec 12, 10:33 AM

Celeriac remoulade.

Lea

Dec 12, 10:35 AM

chicken pot pie!

sarah Liu

Dec 12, 10:43 AM

i love a steaming hot bowl of noodle soup! in particular, i am craving the hot pickled mustard and shredded pork noodle soup recently. here is a nice photo online… http://lh5.ggpht.com/_-Os278mLQV8/Rq9Ge3yuOHI/AAAAAAAAAj4/Fhinude2sPU/P1010085.JPG

Charlotte

Dec 12, 10:44 AM

Chicken Noodle soup… but only my mothers recipe… I know she cooks the whole chicken in water first, and she adds skinny noodles at the end, not too many. I just emailed her for the recipe!

Xoff

Dec 12, 11:05 AM

Stew of all sorts, almost anything rustic, rabbit goulash, cassoulet, or plain old beef stew. There is something so comforting about winter stews with all their root vegetable goodness that makes them so satisfying and body warming on a cold winter day.

Anna Giladi

Dec 12, 11:17 AM

I just thought of another variation: chocolate covered strawberries! :)

melissa

Dec 12, 11:19 AM

A big mug of hot chocolate, with whipped cream and marshmallows of course!

Christopher Stephens

Dec 12, 11:24 AM

Hot chocolate – so what if it’s not original, it’s still the best.

oriana

Dec 12, 11:32 AM

chocolate fondue, cupcakes and goulash soup warms the belly.

jennie

Dec 12, 11:33 AM

cream of wheat with brown sugar on a cold saturday morning with a cup of English Breakfast tea

Adrienne

Dec 12, 11:36 AM

Risotto. It is so often served as side dish but makes a wonderful winter meal by itself. I have had some excellent risotto recently at Market Table (village) and Gabriel’s (columbus circle).

Noah Miller

Dec 12, 11:37 AM

There’s nothing like Colcannon. Its easy to make with stuff you have around the kitchen, its cheap, and its great as leftovers. I make mine with mashed potatoes (skins on) then saute cabbage, onions, kale, garlic, and peas (not strictly traditional). lots of sausage links on the side and a big bottle of malt vinegar. Guaranteed to warm you up (and add some winter pounds for hibernation if you don’t watch out.)

Jenn

Dec 12, 12:05 PM

My friend’s magical short ribs over pureed carrots and parsnips. Cheap and easy but oh, what a dinner. Especially when she unexpectedly invites me over on a cold, rainy Thursday night for supper!
The smell of meat braising all day is as nourishing as the food itself!

Kari

Dec 12, 12:41 PM

Old fashioned licorice.

Grant

Dec 12, 12:51 PM

Warm pudding: rice pudding with swollen raisins and a touch of custard, or plum pudding, hot enough to be running under its own weight with butter scotch sauce.

Jeanann

Dec 12, 07:35 PM

Savory Brisket. Warm from the oven with onion-y au jus, vegetables and roasted potatoes. Scrumptious! And the house smells good too! Cozy and soothing.

Tania

Dec 13, 12:23 AM

Hotpot is definitely my go-to winter dish. Whether it’s in the form of Japanese Shabu-Shabu, or Mongolian lamb hotpot, Cantonese style or fondue, they are all deeply comforting and nourishing to me when the weather is cold. What’s better than dunking your meat/bread into a little bubbling hot broth or cheese?

Patricia Grande

Dec 15, 03:33 PM

Favorite winter comfort food(s):
pot roast
lentils
figs and walnuts
baked ziti, lasagne

name (required)

email (required, will not be published)

website

comment

 

Sign up to receive the Cravings newsletter!

Wine Features

The Wine of Paris

Island Whites (Part II)

Island Whites (Part I)

South African Diversity

Surprise, Surprise! Bordeaux is Really Very Good

Burgundy Joy

New Year’s Bubblies for a Splurge and Splash

cyn-et-champagne

My Weekend from Wall Street to South Beach

Vérité: French Roots in California Soil

A Spirit for the Ages

Ultimate Lurton

Vinexpo, the Asian Rendition

It’s Never Too Early to Think About Father’s Day… Especially if He’s Keen on Scotch

Gin from the Past

The Beauty of a Sommelier

March of the Carnivores

Discovering Mexican Wine

A Feast in the Hills above Las Vegas

Oregon: Wines on the Frontier

Not What We Expected, Per Se

Cru Beaujolais at Union Square Cafe

Beaujolais Retailers

Beaujolais with a Backbone

Summer Cocktails?

What is Bubbling in Champagne?

Tight Little Island: Islay Scotch

French Wine Finds

Alto Adige

Back to Restaurant Season in Paris

Cyn's Favorite Champagnes in 2006

Sparkles Everywhere

Discovering Jura Gems

A Taste of North Fork

Milou en mai: My Month of May

Parisian Bistrots à Vin

A Wine Story About Bees (Buzzed by Older Wines)

Gaia: Deconstructing a Wine List

Robert Pepi Makes New Waves Under the Eponymous Label

Holiday Toasting!

Parker on Champagne: What's in a Vintage?

Pascale Rousseau

Ed McCarthy

Terry Theise

Sean Crowley

The World of Champagne Seen from the Inside Out

Lieb Cellars - Recipe 2

Lieb Cellars - Recipe 1

Lieb Cellars - Retailers

Family Cellars' Pinot Blanc: Flat or Fizz?

Rosé - Related Websites

Cyn's Rosé Recs - Retailer

Cyn's Rosé Recs - By The Glass

Jancis Robinson, Rosé & I

Pearl - Champagne

Danube - Grüner Veltliner

Esca - Bellini

Prune - Bloody Mary



Opentable.com



iTunes, App Store, iBookstore, and Mac App Store




BareNecessities.com


Sur La Table_Brand_120X90


CheapTickets


Save Ten on Angie's List!


Alessi S.P.A. US